Towel cabinet



Feb; 13, 1940] 3 Sheets-Stieet 1 Original Filed June 9, 1936 Feb. 13, 1940. 1.. M. HARVEY 2,190,100

' TOWEL CABINET Original Filed June 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1940. M. HARVEY TOWEL CABINET Original Filed June 9, 1936 s Sheds-Sheet s Patented Feb. 13, 1940 v v UNITED "STATES ,IPATENTALi'0FF]IC EQL d d I it'z eojotf Leo Harvey, Los AngeleslQalif.' Application Janet, 1936', Serial stri tease;

l tei ewed May113,;1939 I '7 c a n s. (Cl,312;56) a j a s invention relates to a n nsfi v Anoth r bject.oijthisiirivention,is to provid and relates more particularly tea towel cabinet a toweldispensing' devicebfkthecharactermane for dispensing towels. A general object oi tionedin which the ejecting or dispensing mesh-f invention is to provide a simple practical; and anism may be r'y simple andma'ycompriseonly improved towel cabinet. d g two niovingvparts .dr; l

Another objector thisinvention is to provide Anotherob'jectof this invention isto provide a towel cabinet for handling or dispensing paper a towel dispenser. or towel} cabinet of. the char-v towels of the characterdescribed and claimed. in acter mentioned' which 'a supplyjo'r stack of my co-pending application entitled Paper tdwelm Y b a n d in p p Po ing, Serial No. 84,040, filed June 8, 1936.

, Sition &5? l p i' 10 Another object of this invention is to provide The u bi c s features Q Y invena towel cabinet embodying a dispensing means n will befully understood. from the followin or ejecting means for cooperating with folded e a edydescription of atypicalpreferred form portions of the towels to project the same from and fat of j h n en n; fll u the cabinet or case forgrasping by the user. which description reference 51 151 813- 15' Another object of this invention is to provide mpanyin drawing in whi Y a towel cabinet of the character mentioned in; "F 1"sa1frontjelevation of the towelcabinet which the ejecting elementactsonly on the fold D OVided by t en g-2.1 a Sid W-v ed portion or portions of one towel at each opera- 171011 O P 8 31 0 31 an enlarged q' tion of the device to unfold or straighten out the tail d ta $e p LW W taken as. indicated by, same to be grasped by the .user and therefore 111193;? '011 Fig. 4 is an arged verti does not disturb the other stacked towels intthe, a d i se a vi wtak as i i d' y case. i ne4 '4 oil- Fig. 11. Fig-"ibis a fragmentary ver- Another object of this invention is to provide jqei i q y e 'ei the b e i a towel cabinet of the character mentioned in q -i ede ic Pe j v e ia en i cat 25 which the towels cannot be engaged for surrepe 1 e5+ Fi E-6 a 1 02 201111811 de ailed titious removal without actuating the dispensing 9 l YEW n n as ndicated by line 66 mechanism making it substantially obligatory to: 1 P g: F aflenla'rged r me operate the dispensing mechanism whereby there e i a et e l V n s is a markedlyless tendency to waste the towels catedby F- "F -1 ng the ejet 80 by needlessly removing them from the case. lem in 9 fp 9i h fLiPflfli On Of a Another object of this invention is to provide w el t ml gq ma j e openmg. 1 a towel cabinet of the character mentioned em-v The cabmet 0 dlspenslng device provided by bodying a novel ejecting or dispensing means the pIe$enVmVntiIiisfldapted'm b s -j operable to engage the folded portionslof a towelw tdfhandlel'papr towels; toilt P cleaning 85 to bend or fold them outwardlyiand downwardly s u the i -1 I low n et through the discharge opening of the case'theree: 9 1 Iy ll l descr be a typ m j h d-j] by straightening the towel to its original shape, WPUQ F 1 1d" i a i y t0 p p p r and projecting said folded portions for 'conven pw lms 0f pharacter descr bed in myco- 0 ient grasping by theuser whereby he may with f l e pl e qn d to above. It is to o draw the said towel through the opening "PM y R 900 f f t e invention $11101; to be Another bject of t invention is t provider construed as limitedor restrictedto the specific a towel cabinet embodying a case correspondingw o m illustrated 0. t h ne, I he i fi in horizontal cross sectional configuration" to the y l Wi t we re 'P plan configuration of the folded towels, of the The d'jpensing-device-o tdwel cabinetoflthefl character referred to above, whereby the folded sst i niinp u e r 3' j a m ij portions of the towels engagedfiand straightenedcase q q am ea ply f t w T out by the ejecting mechanism are projected ashllttle e j n il r qracti s on norfrom the case to be readily grasped by the user' 7 I flfi t6 li l' i i h I fQ withoutcontacting the case. l case l0 and nieansl2- foractuatingl'the ejectin 56" Another object of this invention is'to provide e ement H2 I v i a towel dispensing device of the'character mena -Thecase Ill may be it aried' in' construction and.

tioned that supports the towels abovethe disdesi nto itv r i ta s o' charge opening making it difficult to engagethe dle; paperproducts'jof various shapes; In the forward edges of the contained towels. l drewingsi have illustrateda case ll) of typical 55 an preferred construction for containing one form of paper towels of the character described in my above mentioned co-pending application. The case In may be formed of sheet metal or the like and is adapted to be arranged on a vertical support such as a wall. The particular case I0 illustrated in the drawings includes a vertical back I3, vertical parallel sides I4 suitably secured to the back I3 and a substantially horizontal bottom 15." The bottom I5 is; suitably secured toxtheback I3-and the sides I4. The back I3 may be bent or shaped to have spaced inwardly projecting vertical ribs or guides I6 to engage the rear edges of the towels T, aswill beherein after described.

In accordance with the invention the caseinis preferably of a characteristic horizontal cross. sectional configuration to correspond; generally,

' wardly and laterally to the vertical .planes of the sides I4. Inwardly or rearwardly extending flanges 20 are providedv on the walls I9 to overlap the forward edge portions of the sides I4. The forward edge of the case bottom I5 has substantially the'same outline as the front II, that is, its two corner portions are bevelled off to be substantially parallel with the walls I9.. 'The lower edge ofthe front I1 is spaced above and forwardly of the forward edge of the bottom I5 to leave a discharge opening 2I which will be more fully described.

f In accordance with the invention the front I'I forms a closure for the case Ill and is adapted to be'hingedor swung to an open position to render the interiorof the caseaccessible for the insertion of a supply of towels T. The above described flanges 20 extend downwardly beyond the of towels T may be readily arranged in the case.

If desired, the upper portions of the front walls I8 and I9 may be inclined upwardly and rearwardly asillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. v V I The case I0 is provided with asupportor. shelf 22 to carry the supply of towels T. The shelf 22is a horizontal member arranged within the case Ill some distance above its bottom I5. The shelf 22 is suitably supported in the case and may be welded, soldered or otherwise secured to the-back I3 and the sides I4. The shelf 22 extends" forwardly to adjacent or beyond the fore ward edgesof the sides I4. A-central integral extension orweb :23 extends forwardly from the shelf 22 to the,forwardcentral portion of the front edge of' the bottozn I5. accordance with the invention the forward portion of the web 23 is curved downwardly and forwardly as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawings. Notohes 24 are provided in the front edge of the shelf 22 at opposite sides of its web 23.

A generally horizontal guide member 25 is provided within the case and is spaced between the bottom I5 and the shelf 22. The member 25 may have suitable depending flanges 25 secured to the sidesM- and 'mayjhave a'depending flange 2'! at its rear edge. The flanges 26 and 2? may engage or rest on the bottom I5. The member 25 pro- 'jects forwardly from beyond the sides It and its forward edge has a substantially straight central part'and rearwardly divergent corner parts substantially parallel with the walls I8 and it of the closed front II. A depending lip 28 extends .along'the forward edge or side of the member "25 and projects downwardly to the case bottom I5. The lip 28 may be suitably secured to the bottom I5. The above described downwardly curved forward portion of the web '23 extends downwardly to the member 25. The lower end part of the web 23' may be secured to the member 25 by welding, soldering or the like. The downwardly and forwardly curved forward portion of the web 23 closes the central portion of the space or opening occurring between the shelf 22 and the member 25. The forward end of this space between the shelf 22 and the member 25 is open at the notches 24 to receive or pass the towel engaging parts of the element II as will be hereafter described. In accordance with the invention the forward-end portions 25 of the member 25 at the opposite sides of the bridge or web 23 are inclined downwardlyand forwardly. The member 25 is depressed or shaped to have a central track groove 29 extending from its rear edge-to the lip 28. The member 25 is also provided with depressions or grooves 35 spaced from and extending parallel with the track groove 29. The grooves 39 are spaced from the opposite sides of the track groove 29 and die out at the inclined forward portion 25 of the member 25. Finger receiving pockets or recesses 3i may be provided at theangled off corner parts of the lip 28 for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

The-towels T illustrated in the drawings are in the nature of separate or individual sheets of paper toweling of rectangular configuration. The forwardrcorner portions 32 of the towels T are foldedback upon the bodies of the towels. Thus the'towels T are of non-regular hexagonal configuration. .The angle of the lines of folding providing the portions 32 is substantially the same as that of the .walls I9, the front I! being formed to conform toand receive the forward portions of-the towels T as above described. In order to permit the proper stacking of thetowels T Without danger of the stack falling and in order to render the towels T more compact the rear end portions ,33 of the towels are folded upon the bodies of the towels. The towels T are stacked one upon another with their corner portions 32 at their lower sides. The stack of towels T may be. arranged on the shelf 22 when the case front I1 :is in its open or down position. The ribs 95 on the-back l3 engage the rear edges of the towels T to properly locate the towels in the case. The forward folded corner portions 32 of the towels T are directly above the inclined portions 25 0f the member 25 and, therefore, the corner portions 32 of the lowermost towel T are unsupportedand free. The central forward web 23 of the shelf. 22 supports the central forward portion of the stack of towels T. The shelf 22 supgramme I 3 ports the: stack of towels T sothattherlbWermost towel T is some distance above fhe discharge opening 2|; Owing to the presence. ofithe. lip 28, the web 23, and the inclined portions it. is: diificult, if not impossible to reach throughlthe opening M to grasp the central forward portions of the lowermost towels T. It is to: be particularly noted that the lowermost towelT beingsupported above the dischargexopeningiZI and entirely within thecase I0 is very difficult of access through the opening.

The shuttle or ejecting element II is operableto engage and act on the folded cornerl portions 32 of the lowermost towel. T to bend and fold them downwardly and outwardly so that they are. projected through the opening 2| for grasping by the user. between the shelf 22 and the guide member 25. In accordance with the invention the ejecting element Il may be a: simple flat plate-like part. The element! l is proportioned for free horizontal movement in the case III. A rectangular notch 35. is provided in the forward edge of the element: II and is of substantial width to leave two forwardly projecting fingers 36 on the forward end of the element at each side of its central longitudinal axis. The fingers 35 eachhave afor- Ward edge 31 substantially parallel withthe back i3 and a rearwardly and laterally extending edge t8 extending from the edge 31 to theadjacent the case ID. The element II- has a depression 39 extending centrallythrough it from its rear edge;

to its notch 35. The depression 39 provides surfaces 459 on the underside of the element I lvWhiCh are adapted to cooperate with the side walls. of

the track groove 29 to guide the element III.

The forward edge portion of the element II is rolled at the rear endof the notch 35 toiformn a skid GI. I the bottom of the track groove 29 to assist 'in supporting theelement for movement. Simi-T lar rolled skids 42 are provided onthe rear end portion of the element II and are:adapted.;to

operate in the grooves 30, to shiftably support:

. the inner or rear end of the. element II. The:

cooperation of the surfaces 40 and the skid. 41

with the groove 29 and the cooperation of the.- skids 42 with the grooves 30 effectively support II for horizontal movementv and.

the element guide the element for proper movement in the. case. The skids M and 42 normally support the element Ii where its upper 'sideis adjacent the shelf 22. Whenthe element I I isinthe normal or unactuated position the forward ends of its fingers 35 are at the notches 24' and are spaced inwardly or rearwardly from the folded corner portions 32 of the lowermost towel T.

The element II is guided for inclined moVement as Well as horizontal movement; The for Ward end portion 29 of the track groove 29 is lower than the major rear portion of the groove. A downwardly and 'forwardly inclinedwall 42 connects the bottom of theiforwardfxpor- 5 tion w of the groove with the bottom-'of the' rear portion of the groove 29} Upon vforwardh The ejecting element II is? arranged projecting end part of thelever 50;

The skid ll engages. or rides along...

assure the proper downward-andforward IIiOVB- ment: of the ejecting element I-I The wall; 43 is located above and substantially parallelwiththe wall- 42 leaving an inclined channel throughwhich the'ski'dM and" the forward portion of the element may; move. The wall 43 may be anin tegral portion of the web 23 as illustrated in" the drawings. The forwardend wall 44- of they groove" 29 may be e-ngageable by the forward end" of the element II to limit the forward move- Iiientof the element. I The member 25 is spac a-sufii'cient distance below the shelf 22"to 'allow theelement H to assume the-inclinedpositiorr illustrated in Fig. '7 of the drawings when'actuated to its forward ejecting position. Aswill morefully described hereafter, the downward; and forward movement of the fingers 36 of the ejector I-I occurswhen the fingers are'in unfold-Q ing and pushing engagement with the folded" portions 320i the lowermost towel T to effect downward and outwardprojection .of' the folded" parts 32 through the opening '2 I The means I2 is" operable" to shift or move the ejecting element I I to effect'the projection of the folded portions 32 of the lowermost towel :Tfron-r the case II]. The operating means' I2 is in the form of 'a-simple manually operable lever means.

The actuating means I2 may include a manually" engageable lever 50 extending" through an el'ori I gate opening 5I ina side Mof the case It. A suitable handle portion 52 is provided on the 50 is pivotally supported" between its ends with- The lever? in the case I ll: In the structure illustrated an angle iron or brace 53 is arranged between the bottom I5" and the partition member 25 to assist in supporting the 1 member; A vertical rivet or pivot pin' 54' extends through vertical openings in the member 25, theb'race 53and" the bottom I5. A transverse opening 55 is provided in" the lever 50 and receives the pivot pin 54 whereby the lever ispivotable on the pin. The brace 5-3 and the pin 54 arespaced' from one side of the groove 29 and" ajsimilar brace 53and pin 54 may be provided at the other side of the groove 29 to permit the optional mounting of the operating lever 50 for'operation at either side of the case.

v A pin 56 is securedto the element II and ex-' tends downwardlythrough an opening 51 inthe bottom wall of the groove129. The pin 56does" not necessarily cooperate, with the. openin 51.

element II The handle portion 5 2 and the lever 50 are readily engageable'at the sideof the case I0toefi'ect the" forward movement of the el'e ment I I for the purposeof projecting the corner portions 32- of the lowermost towel? T through a the opening 21 Means is;- preferably provided to automaticallyreturn the element I I -and the lever 5ll ti =-their original or: iin'actuated positions. A spring '59 is connected to'the element Hand the back l3of the case,l0.. ,.Thespring T 59 is an extensible springandis stretchedor extended whenythe element -H ismoved forwardly. When the forward pressure is removed from the, handle portion 52 f *the lever, thespring 59 automatically returns the lever 50 and the element H to their normal positions. Suitable stops Gil may be provided. to limit the return movement of the-element ll. t

It is believed that the operation of the dispensing device will be readily understood from the for going detailed description. To operate the device, the usermerely moves the projecting-portion of the lever Ell rearwardly. This rearward movement of theouter arm of the lever 50 effects forward movement of theelement ll within the case it. As the element ll moves forwardly its fingers 36 engage under the relativelyfree folded portions 32 of the lowermost towel T, that is, the fingers 36 pass between the portions 32 and the body of the towel T. As the element ll moves forwardly its forward portion carrying the skid 4| moves downwardly between the inclinedwalls 42 and 33. The skid 4| operating downwardlyon the wall 32 carries or guides the element II for corner portions 32 of the towels T is extremely downwardly, and forward inclined movement. During this downward and forward movement of the element l l its fingers 36 are acting on the fold portions 32 ofthe lowermost towel T to bend and project them' downwardly and outwardly.

Asthe forward movement of the element ll continues the fingers 3B straighten the fold portions 32 and projectthem'through the opening 2| adjacent or below the walls l9. This projection of the folded portions 32 through the opening 2|- may be effected without bodily shifting of the lowermost towel T. It will be observed that the straightening or unfolding of the corner portions 32- of the lowermost towel T to return the towel to its original general configuration effects the pro-- jection of the portions 32 from the case In.

The portions 32 projected from the case II] as just described may be readily graspedby the user for may engage theflprojected portions 32 without contacting the case ill. When the user removes the forward pressure from the projectingendof the'lever 5B the spring 5l' automatically returns the lever'and the element I l to their original pof',

sitions.

It is to be noted that the towels T are supported entirely within the case lfito have the lowermost towel spaced above the plane of the discharge opening H rendering it practically impossible to surreptitiously engage or disturb the stacked The novel manner of guiding the.ele-

and unfold the corner portions 32 of the .towel T through the'opening 2! below the body of the towel. The means for ejecting or projecting the simple and comprises only two moving parts,

namely, the lever. 58 and the element H, The. case It) is constructedso that it substantially conforms to the towels T. Accordingly, it is impossible to improperly arrange the towels T in the-case lu provided the towels are arranged'with their folded portions 32 at their under sides. The case front ll] may be swung to the down or open.

position to leave the entire front of the case In open for the insertion of a supply stack of towels ,f' Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations ormodifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

w Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for dispensing substantially rectangular paper sheets having folded corner portions on their under sides whereby they are no longer rectangular, said device including a generally rectangular case having angular corner walls whereby it is shaped to receive a stack of said sheets as folded, said case having a discharge opening in its front wall and extending into said angular corner portions, a support in the case for supporting said stack of sheets with the folded portions of the lowermost sheet entirely unsupported and with their forward edges above and slightly at the rear of said opening, a translatable member, means guiding the member toward the opening to unfold the folded portions of the sheets to project them through the opening at said angular corner portions of the case for grasping by the user, and means for operating the member.

2. A device for dispensing substantially rectangular paper sheets having folded portions on their under sides whereby they are no longer rectangular, said device including a case shaped to receive a stack of said sheets as folded, said case having a discharge opening, a support in the case above said opening for supporting said stack of sheets so that the folded portions are entirely unsupported, a translatable member, a guide for guiding the member to unfold the folded portions of the sheets andthus return the sheets to their original rectangular form, the case being shaped so that said unfolded portions are projected through the opening for grasping by the user, and means for operating the member.

3. A device for dispensing paper sheets which have been folded to have folded corner portions on their under sides and a shape other than their original shape, said device including, a case shaped to receive the folded sheets and having a discharge opening, a support in the case above the opening for supporting a stack of the sheets sothat their folded portions are entirely unsupported and carrying the stack with the folded portion of the lowermost sheet above the opening, a translatable ejector in the case, means for directing the ejector downwardly and outwardly to- Ward said opening to unfold the folded portions of the sheets and move them downwardly through said opening for grasping, and means for operating the ejector.

.4. A device for dispensing paper sheets having folded corner portions, including a case shaped and proportioned to receive a stack of said sheets and having a discharge opening in its front adjacent its bottom, means supporting said stack in the case with its lower end above said opening and with said corner portions entirely unsupported, and means for unfolding said corner portions and projectingthem downwardly and outwardly through said opening to be accessible for the pur pose of withdrawing the sheets, said means including a translatable ejector in the case, and a track supporting the ejector and having an upper substantially horizontal ejector supporting portionfor guiding the ejector in a substantially 5. A device for dispensing paper sheets having folded corner portions, including a case shaped and proportioned to receive a stack of said sheets and having a discharge opening, means supporting said stackin the case'with its lower end above said opening and with said folded corner portions free and unsupported, and means for unfolding said corner portions and projecting them downwardly and outwardly through said opening to be accessible for the purpose of withdrawing the sheets, the last mentioned means including a translatable member movable in the case, means supporting the member for movement in a direction to unfold the said corner portions, means guiding the member downwardly and toward said opening during its movement, and a pivoted manual lever operatively associated with the member to move the same.

6. A device for dispensing paper sheets having folded corner portions, including a case shaped and proportioned to receive a stack of said sheets and having a discharge opening, means supporting said stack in the case with its lower end above said opening and with said folded corner portions free and unsupported, and means for unfolding said corner portions and projecting them downwardly and outwardly through said opening to be accessible for the purpose of withdrawing the sheets, the last mentioned means including a member movable in the case, means supporting the member for movement toward the opening spaced fingers on the forward end of the member to unfold the said corner portions, cam means in the case for actingon the portion of the member between the fingers to guide the member downwardly during such movement, and means for moving the member.

'7. A device for dispensing paper sheets, each sheet having folded corner portions, the device including a case shaped and proportioned to receive a stack of said sheets and having a discharge opening, means supporting said stack in the case with its lower end abovesaid opening and with said foldedcorner portions free and unsupported, and means for unfolding said corner portions and projecting them downwardly and outwardly through said opening to be accessible for the purpose of withdrawing the sheets, the last mentioned means including a translatable member in the case movable toward said opening, guide means supporting the member for such movement, a fingeron the member for unfolding the folded corner portions of the lowermostsheet during movement of the member, and means directing the member downwardly during its movement whereby the finger moves the said folded portions outwardly through the opening.

8. A device for dispensing paper sheets having folded corner portions, including a case shaped and proportioned to receive a stack of said sheets and having a discharge opening, a shelf in the case supporting said stack with its lower end above the opening and with said folded corner portions free and unsupported, a guide below the shelf, a member guided by the guide for movement toward the opening, spaced fingers on the member to unfold the corner portions of the low.- ermost sheet, cam means on the guide for acting on the portion of the member between the fingers to direct the member downwardly whereby the fingers project said corner portions through the opening, and .means for operating the member.

9. A device for dispensing paper sheets, each,

sheet having portions folded back upon its lower side, the device comprising a case having a discharge opening, means supporting a stack of said sheets in the case with the folded portions of the lowermost sheet unsupported and adjacent and above the discharge opening, a translatable ejector in the case, means guiding the ejector forsubstantially horizontal movement, means guiding the ejector downwardly and toward said opening following said substantially horizontal movement to unfold the folded portions of the lowermost sh'eetpand thus project said portions through the discharge opening, and means for operating the ejector.

10. A device for dispensing paper sheets, each sheet having corner portions folded back upon its lower side, the device comprising a case having a discharge opening, means supporting a stack of said sheets in the case with the folded portions of the lowermost sheet unsupported and adjacent and above the discharge opening, a translatable there being a discharge opening in the front exi tending across said divergent corner parts, means supporting a stack of said sheets in the case with the said corner portions of the lowermost sheet unsupported and in a plane above the discharge, opening, a translatable ejector in the case, means supporting the ejector forv forward movement followed by movement downwardly and forwardly to the discharge opening to unfold the said corner portions of the lowermost sheet and thus project them through the opening for grasping at the said corner parts of the case front, and means for moving the ejector.

LEO M. HARVEYL 

